The Lord said that Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of the lilies of the field. "And why take thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all His glory was not arrayed like one of these." (Matthew 6:28-29)
The reason was that the Lord arrayed the lilies, while Solomon arrayed himself. The contrast is between God's way of doing, and man's way. Man, not the lily of the field, is the crowning work of God's creation; but while the lilies have remained what God has made them, taking their life just as He gives it to them and putting on just that grace and beauty which He bestows, man has sought out many inventions." (Ecclesiastes 7:29)
He has tried in many things to improve upon God's way, but the result has not been an improvement in the sight of God.
The Creator did not design man to be meanly arrayed, while bestowing such beauty of adornment upon the inferior things of His handiwork. He does not wish man to be ignobly arrayed, even in his fallen and degenerate state. The Saviour said, "If God so clothed the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you?" (Matthew 6:30)
And can there be any better apparel any more beautiful and appropriate garments, than those which He makes for us himself? We make a great mistake when we refuse to let God clothe us with the garments which suit His taste.
And we make that mistake, as the Word tells us, by taking anxious thought about the matter, as though it were one of the main purposes of existence, and studying to be arrayed according to our human taste and fancy without consulting Him. He who apparels the lilies and clothes all nature in her beautiful dress is a wiser and more skillful Artist than any that ever held sway over the fashions of the world.
If we make outward adornment our care and study, we shall prevent the true adornment which the Creator desires us to have. There is the adornment of: "A meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (1 Peter 3:4)
There is the "fine linen, clean and white, [which is] the righteousness of the saints." (Revelation 19:8) "The Lord will give grace and glory." (Psalm 84:11)
He who clothes the lilies and the sun will give grace and glory to man, even in fuller measure than before the fall. He will share His own beauty and glory with us, if we will "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." (Matthew 6:33)
His righteousness is the most beautiful garment ever beheld. He has put the prayer in our hearts, "Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us." (Psalm 90:17)
And His answer is, "Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1)--Present Truth, July 11, 1895--Timeline: IV-15 (Sermon on the Mount)--Matthew 6:28-29.